Texas AG Declares Gun Stores Are Essential Businesses

The Texas Tribune reports:

Gun stores are essential business and should be allowed to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said today.

Paxton said in his nonbinding opinion that state law prevents cities and counties from “adopting regulations related to the transfer, possession, or ownership of firearms, or commerce in firearms.”

In a radio interview Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said gun stores and places that sell ammunition are essential businesses because if there’s a “break down of society” people need to be able to defend themselves.

“State law provides several emergency powers to local governments to control movement within their region during a disaster, which serves our communities well during public health events like the one we’re fighting now,” Texas AG Ken Paxton said.https://t.co/qxw9zByFue

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) March 28, 2020

Gun stores can keep selling during shelter in place, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton rules. https://t.co/FWbg4EOuv7

— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) March 28, 2020